Car seat safety campaign planned for May 19-June 1

The Hood River Police Department will be working in partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation and other local agencies in conducting a traffic safety belt blitz campaign. The safety campaign will start May 19 and end June 1. The emphasis will be on proper seat belt and child safety seat use.

Officers will also be looking for distracted drivers who are texting and using their cellphones as well as drivers that are speeding.

For safety belt systems, “proper use” means the lap belt is placed low across the hips and shoulder belt crossing center of the chest over the collarbone. Seat belts should be free of slack and lying flat with no twists or knots.

Under Oregon law, a child weighing less than 40 pounds must be properly restrained in a child safety seat. A child under 1 year of age or weighing less than 20 pounds must be restrained in a rear-facing child seat. A child over 40 pounds but under age 8 or less than 4 feet 9 inches tall must be restrained in either a child seat with harness system or in a booster seat that raises the child up so that a lap and shoulder belt system fit correctly. Correct fit is the same as described for an adult.

A statewide observation survey in June 2013 found 98 percent of Oregon’s motoring public using safety belts, making Oregon one of the two highest belt use states in the country. Consistent vehicle restraint use is the single most effective way to protect motor vehicle occupants from crash, injury or death, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Oregon’s safety belt overtime enforcement program is committed to reducing the severity of crash injuries by promoting proper safety belt and child restraint use. For additional information, contact Sgt. Don Cheli at the Hood River Police Department at 541-387-5256.

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During the Memorial Day weekend May 24-27, the Hood River Police Department will be conducting a DUII enforcement campaign. The purpose of this campaign will be to focus on people driving under the influence of intoxicants. This is in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This will be the fourth of several high-visibility enforcement efforts throughout the year. There will be a higher number of police officers on patrol during these enforcement periods.